Project Description

The Sorta Sisters

Anna and Mica live totally different lives on either end of Florida, but a chance correspondence begins a friendship that helps both girls to face the uncertainties and fears in their lives.

Anna Casey likes living in North Florida with her latest foster mother, but it is hard growing into a new family and way of life, especially when you’ve been rootless nearly all of your life. Mica Delano likes living aboard her sailboat at a marina in the Florida Keys, but Mica fears that her restless father will soon pull anchor, taking them away from the safety of the familiar marina.

A chance correspondence between these two girls becomes a flourishing friendship. As they share their love of nature, each helps the other cope with uncertainty, loneliness, and profound change. Mica enrolls in public school for the first time since first grade, and Anna must make room in her heart when her beloved foster mother becomes serious about a suitor. In the end, Anna and Mica save each other and themselves with hope, humor, and a shared love of the natural world.

Award-winning author Adrian Fogelin’s latest book for middle readers follows an unlikely but enduring friendship that is forged between two adolescent girls.

Reviews

“Fogelin offers a readable combination of narrative and letters that are infused with details about science, as the girls send seed pods, shells and other specimens to each other. Readers will appreciate the pen-pal friendship and the hopeful ending.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“With insight and compassion, Fogelin explores the complexities and rewards of friendship and family…. A heartfelt story that shows the many factors that create family, friends, and home.” ―Booklist

“This third book in Fogelin’s ‘neighborhood’ series can stand alone, and the ending makes it clear that this enjoyable saga will continue.” ―School Library Journal

“Fogelin does a beautiful job of examining the complex, often painful, aspects of friendship and family.” ―The Oklahoman

Awards

Florida Book Awards (Gold Medal, Children’s Category) ―Florida State University Program in American and Florida Studies, 2008

Society of School Librarians International Book Awards (Honor Book, Language Arts K-6 novels) ―Society of School Librarians International, 2008